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FERTILIZING  PEACHES 


:  UN-IAN   K 


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HST 


FERTILIZING  PEACHES 


Potash  in   Its  Relation   to   Peach  Growing 


PUBLISHED  BY 

GERMAN  KALI  WORKS,  Inc, 

1901  McCormick  Bldg. 

CHICAGO 


Potash  in  Its  Relation  to 
Peach  Growing 

a*  a*  a* 

The  peach  industry  is  one  of  great  economic  importance 
throughout  certain  sections  of  the  United  States  and  pro- 
vides one  of  the  most,  luscious  of  all  fruits.  The  peach  is 
one  of  the  most  difficult  of  all  fruits  to  cultivate  and  man- 
age successfully.  This  is  because  it  is  more  sensitive  to  a 
greater  variety  of  conditions  than  other  tree  fruits,  and  to 
the  fact  that  it  ordinarily  gives  its  best  results  on  soils 
which  are  often  regarded  as  poorly  adapted  to  general  cul- 
tivation. The  very  difficulties  met  with  in  the  production 
of  the  peach  on  a  successful  commercial  scale  make  its 
growth  highly  profitable  under  skillful  management  in  those 
locations  to  which  it  is  naturally  well  adapted.  It  is  a 
fruit  which  must  be  grown  as  nearly  to  perfection  as  possi- 
ble in  order  to  command  the  highest  price  on  the  market. 
To  peach  specialists,  therefore,  all  knowledge  pertaining  to 
the  fertilization  of  this  crop  and  the  influence  which  spe- 
cialized plant  foods  may  exert  on  its  quality  and  appearance 
is  of  the  greatest  importance,  from  both  a  practical  and  an 
economic  point  of  view.  While  orchard  crops  through  the 


274369 


FERTILIZING    PEACHES 


medium  of  their  extensive  root  system  are  capable  of 
gathering  their  food  from  a  wide  extent  of  soil  at  varying 
depths,  they  must  have  a  continuous  supply  of  rather 
quickly  available  plant  foods  if  the  trees  are  to  continue  to 
yield  profitable  crops  throughout  a  series  of  years. 

Plant  Food  Requirements  of  Peaches 

According  to  recent  statistics  100  peach  trees  are  the 
average  planted  per  acre.  When  the  trees  have  come  into 
bearing  and  yield  as  much  as  400  bushels  per  acre,  the  fruit 
would  remove*  only  22.2  pounds  of  nitrogen,  11  pounds  of 
phosphoric  acid,  and  45.5  pounds  of  potash.  The  leaves 
estimated  to  weigh  about  5,300  pounds  would  remove  47.7 
pounds  of  nitrogen,  8  pounds  of  phosphoric  acid,  and  42 
pounds  of  potash.  The  new  wood  calculated  to  weigh  about 
1,500  pounds  would  remove  8.6  pounds  of  nitrogen,  2  pounds 
of  phosphoric  acid,  and  2.5  pounds  of  potash.  The  total 
amount  of  plant  food  removed  from  an  acre  peach  orchard 
planted  on  the  basis  indicated  above  and  in  full  bearing 
would  be  approximately  78.5  pounds  of  nitrogen,  21  pounds 
of  phosphoric  acid,  and  90  pounds  of  potash. 

A  further  examination  of  the  analysis  of  the  peach  will 
doubtless  furnish  information  of  unusual  interest.  The 
fruit  pulp  contains  .08  per  cent  of  nitrogen,  .04  per  cent  of 
phosphoric  acid,  and  .2  per  cent  of  potash.  The  stones  con- 

*  Van  Slyke  —  Fertilizers  and  Crops. 
Four 


Plant  Food  Removed  per  Acre  by  a  400 
Bushel  Peach  Crop 


(VAN  SLYKE) 


TOTAL  PEACH  CROP  IN  FULL  BEARING 


FRUIT 


.45.5  Ibs. 
11.0.. 
22.2 .. 


LEAVES 


42.0  Ibs. 

8.0,, 
47.7  ,. 


NEW  WOOD 


POTASH 
PHOSPHORIC  ACID 
NITROGEN 


Fivr> 


FERTILIZING     PEACHES 

tain  .27  per  cent  of  nitrogen,  .07  per  cent  of  phosphoric 
acid  and  .08  per  cent  of  potash.  The  leaves  contain  .9  per 
cent  of  nitrogen,  .15  per  cent  of  phosphoric  acid  and  .6  per 
cent  of  potash.  The  new  wood  contains  .43  per  cent  of  nitro- 
gen, .11  per  cent  of  phosphoric  acid  and  .22  per  cent  of 
potash. 

Thus  it  appears  that  the  trees  make  a  considerable  de- 
mand on  the  three  essential  elements  of  plant  food  which 
the  farmer  is  ordinarily  called  upon  to  supply  to  his  soil. 
Of  course,  it  is  understood  by  the  orchardist  that  it  takes 
something  like  fourteen  elements  to  supply  the  needs  of  his 
trees,  but  ordinarily,  with  the  exception  of  nitrogen,  phos- 
phoric acid,  and  potash,  and  sometimes  lime,  all  of  the  other 
ten  or  eleven  are  found  in  the  soil  in  sufficient  abundance 
to  be  disregarded  from  a  practical  point  of  view.  The  analy- 
ses quoted  above  show  that  peaches  require  a  much  larger 
per  cent  of  potash  for  their  perfection  than  is  usually 
considered  necessary,  and  while  the  phosphoric  acid  is  also 
shown  to  be  essential,  the  smaller  amount  required  leads  us 
to  conclude  that  the  soil  will  more  often  supply  this  mineral 
constituent  in  sufficient  quantities  than  it  will  the  potash. 

Soils  Adapted  to  the  Peach 

While  the  peach  is  adapted  to  growth  on  quite  a  variety 
of  soils,  it  gives  best  results  on  loose  sandy  loams,  which  are 
well  drained.  If  the  soils  are  rich  so  much  the  better,  pro- 
six 


FEETILIZING    PEACHES 

viding  they  do  not  stimulate  an  excessive  wood  growth  at 
the  expense  of  the  fruit  yield.  Compact  and  heavy  clays  are 
not  satisfactory  soils  as  a  rule  on  which  to  grow  peaches. 
Where  soils  are  too  rich,  that  is,  contain  an  over  abun- 
dance of  nitrogen  in  proportion  to  the  supply  of  the  mineral 
elements,  phosphoric  acid  and  potash,  the  tendency  is  to 
prolong  the  growth  too  late  into  the  fall,  resulting  in  the 
wood  and  buds  not  maturing  properly,  and  therefore  ren- 
dering them  more  susceptible  to  winter  killing. 

Influence  of  Essential  Elements  on  Plants 

The  fact  that  the  peach  produces  more  freely  than  most 
other  fruit  crops  is  clear  evidence  that  it  is  a  heavy  consumer 
of  plant  food  when  compared  on  the  acre  basis.  It  has  been 
estimated,  for  instance,  that  peaches  require  about  five 
times  more  nitrogen,  phosphoric  acid,  and  potash  than 
apples,  and  six  times  as  much  lime  and  two  or  three  times 
as  much  of  each  of  the  chief  constituents  as  pears.  It  would 
appear,  therefore,  that,  owing  to  the  thinner  and  poorer 
soils  on  which  peaches  are  usually  planted,  generous  feed- 
ing with  commercial  plant  food  becomes  more  essential 
than  with  tree  fruits  grown  on  richer  soils.  In  this  con- 
nection it  is  well  to  consider  some  of  the  special  factors 
entering  into  the  fertilization  of  the  peach. 


FERTILIZING     PEACHES 

It  is  well  known  that  nitrogen  is  chiefly  con- 
gen  cerned  in  producing  growth.  It  effects  the 
color  of  foliage,  the  amount  of  growth  made,  the  time  and 
character  of  flowering,  the  date  of  maturity  of  the  crop,  the 
general  health  and  vigor  of  the  tree,  and  the  composition  of 
the  fruit.  Enough  available  nitrogen  should  be  present  in 
the  soil  to  preserve  the  characteristic  green  color  of  healthy 
plants,  to  promote  a  sufficiently  vigorous  growth  to  renew 
the  wood  from  year  to  year,  and  to  insure  the  proper  devel- 
opment of  the  flower  buds  and  maturity  of  the  fruit.  For 
the  reasons  enumerated,  if  used  in  excess,  the  influence  of 
nitrogenous  fertilizers  will  become  injurious  rather  than 
beneficial.  Where  it  is  necessary  to  use  nitrogen  it  should 
be  applied  early  in  the  spring  and  may  be  derived  either 
from  organic  or  inorganic  sources,  as  determined  by  the 
economy  with  which  it  can  be  secured  and  supplied.  Nitro- 
genous fertilizers  should  never  be  applied  late  in  the 
summer  to  a  peach  orchard  because  of  its  tendency  to  pro- 
long growth  and  thus  retard  the  maturing  of  the  wood 
and  the  ripening  of  the  fruit.  Where  leguminous  cover 
crops  are  turned  under  as  green  manure,  little  or  no  addi- 
tional nitrogen  is  required  and' by  this  means  also  a  valuable 
supply  of  humus  will  be  added  to  the  soil. 

Eight 


FERTILIZING     PEACHES 

The  influence  of  phosphoric  acid  as 
Phosphoric  Add       a  plant  food  ig  often  very  marked  in 

the  peach  orchard,  especially  in  the  presence  of  an  abun- 
dance of  the  other  essential  plant  foods,  and  although 
required  to  a  lesser  extent  in  the  composition  of  the  plant 
and  fruit  than  either  potash  or  nitrogen,  it  is  by  no  means 
of  lesser  vital  importance.  Phosphoric  acid  is  mainly  con- 
cerned in  the  germination  of  the  seeds,  hastening  the  matur- 
ity of  the  fruit,  and,  of  course,  is  concerned  in  the  produc- 
tion of  protoplasm,  without  which  there  can  be  no  plant 
life.  The  tendency  of  this  element  in  affecting  the  life 
activities  of  the  tree  is  shown  by  the  increase  in  the  vigor 
of  the  tree  growth  itself  following  an  application  of  phos- 
phatic  fertilizers,  but  the  color  of  the  foliage  is  not. affect- 
ed by  a  deficiency  of  phosphoric  acid  as  in  the  case  of  nitro- 
gen and  potash.  Phosphoric  acid  is  therefore  a  very  essen- 
tial and  important  mineral  element,  but  since  it  is  not 
required  in  such  large  amounts  by  peaches  as  potash,  it 
can  be  supplied  comparatively  cheaply  and  easily  on  that 
account. 

Available  phosphoric  acid  favors  the  rapid  develop- 
ment of  the  young  seedlings  by  promoting  the  growth  of 
the  root  system,  thus  giving  the  young  trees  a  good  start. 
This  function  is  of  great  importance  in  the  establishment 
of  the  young  trees  in  the  soil- under  conditions  favorable  to 
their  continued  development. 

MM 


FERTILIZING    PEACHES 

Phosphoric  acid  favors  the  early  maturity  of  the  trees 
and,  together  with  potash,  forces  them  to  come  into  bearing 
at  an  earlier  date.  Orchard  experiments  have  demon- 
strated that  a  year  or  more  of  difference  in  the  maturity 
and  bearing  period  of  fruit  trees  can  be  brought  about  by 
a  generous  application  of  soluble  phosphoric  acid  in  com- 
bination with  potash,  other  conditions  being  uniform. 

Plants  do  not  come  into  early  maturity  and  do  not 
produce  seeds  and  fruit  unless  amply  supplied  with  phos- 
phoric acid.  The  ripening  effect  of  phosphoric  acid  is 
just  the  reverse  of  that  of  available  nitrogen,  which,  when 
too  abundantly  supplied,  prolongs  the  season  of  growth  and 
retards  the  process  of  maturity. 

Available  phosphoric  acid  in  connection  with  potash, 
generously  used,  assists  in  increasing  the  proportion  of 
fruit  to  wood  growth,  which  action  is  again  the  reverse  of 
the  effect  produced  by  nitrogen. 

Potash  is  chiefly  concerned  in  the  formation  of 
carbohydrates,  promotes  the  growth  of  stems 
and  leaves,  influences  the  development  of  the  fleshy  parts  of 
the  fruit,  affects  the  life  activities  of  the  plant  cells,  is  con- 
cerned in  the  elaboration  of  protoplasm,  exerts  a  whole- 
some effect  on  the  production  of  plant  acid  thereby  improv- 
ing the  flavor,  and  assists  plants  to  withstand  the  inroads  of 

Ten 


FERTILIZING     PEACHES 

diseases.  Potash  is  therefore  of  paramount  importance 
to  the  peach  grower  because  the  soils  on  which  best  results 
are  secured  from  this  crop,  are  usually  of  a  type  most 
markedly  deficient  in  potash,  and  in  the  absence  of  this 
element  in  a  quickly  soluble  form  many  ills  are  likely  to 
afflict  his  orchard,  which  might  otherwise  be  avoided. 

Owing  to  the  important  function  of  potash  it  is  well  to 
consider  in  greater  detail  the  action  of  this  element  as 
related  to  the  development  and  production  of  the  peach. 
In  the  absence  of  potash  the  process  of  assimilation  by 
which  the  elementary  constituents,  carbon,  hydrogen,  and 
oxygen,  are  transformed  into  carbohydrates  ceases.  Exam- 
ples of  carbohydrates  are  starch,  sugar,  and  cellulose. 
Potash  is  not  only  concerned  in  the  formation  of  these 
compounds,  but  it  is  also  concerned  in  the  transfer  of  starch 
from  one  part  of  the  plant  to  another.  Starch  is  chiefly 
formed  in  the  leaves  of  the  plant  and  is  then  insoluble. 
To  change  it  into  the  various  soluble  compounds,  which 
enable  them  to  pass  through  the  cell  walls  and  be  carried 
into  the  fruit  or  seed,  is  one  of  the  important  functions  per- 
formed by  potash.  Therefore,  if  potash  is  deficient  the 
growth  of  the  tree  is  seriously  retarded  and  its  ability  to 
produce  fruit  materially  lessened. 

Potash  compounds  are  important  in  plant  nutrition 
because  they  exert  a  marked  effect  upon  the  development  of 


Twelve 


FERTILIZING     PEACHES 

the  leaves  and  stems.  If  there  is  a  deficiency  of  available 
potash  in  the  soil,  the  woody  parts  of  the  plant  become 
weak  and  brittle.  It  is  known,  of  course,  that  many  peach 
trees  break  down  because  they  are  unable  to  bear  the  load 
of  fruit,  even  though  judicious  thinning  may  have  been 
practiced.  Of  course,  trees  of  all  description  often  over- 
bear and  no  application  of  potash  or  other  commercial  plant 
food  could  prevent  injuries  to  the  limbs  through  breaking, 
especially  in  a  heavy  gale  of  wind,  such  as  often  sweep  over 
the  orchard  near  the  time  at  which  the  fruit  matures.  It 
has  been  demonstrated  quite  conclusively,  however,  that 
where  potash  has  been  liberally  used  the  trees  are  much 
stronger  and  can  withstand  the  strain  to  which  they  may 
be  subjected  by  the  action  of  violent  winds  much  more  suc- 
cessfully than  those  trees  which  have  not  been  so  fertilized. 

It  is  believed  that  potash  compounds  are  a  requisite  to 
the  proper  development  of  the  fleshy  portion  of  the  fruit, 
which  is  the  crowning  glory  of  the  peach.  Therefore,  the 
importance  of  the  liberal  use  of  this  element  cannot  be  too 
strongly  emphasized  in  connection  with  peach  production. 

Potash  has  an  active  association  with  phosphoric  acid 
in  the  formation  of  protoplasm  in  the  plant  cells,  which 
constitute  the  units,  through  the  medium  of  which  is  gener- 
ated the  life  activities  of  the  plant  Similarly  potash  is 

Thirteen 


FEETILIZING   PEACHES 

intimately  associated  in  the  production  of  those  plant  juices 
which  are  rather  sour  and  which  tend  to  give  a  high  flavor 
and  superior  quality  to  such  fruits  as  the  peach. 

Many  plants  which  are  attacked  with  various  fungous 
diseases  are  able  to  withstand  the  ravages  of  these  diseases 
more  effectively  when  amply  supplied  with  potash.  It  is 
reasonable  to  suppose  that  if  this  is  true  of  grasses  and  other 
crops  it  will  also  apply  in  an  equal  degree  to  the  peach, 
which  is  troubled,  as  every  experienced  grower  knows,  with 
many  diseases  of  this  character. 

This  presents  in  a  rather  succinct  form,  some  of  the 
influences  which  potash  is  known  to  exert  on  the  life  activi- 
ties of  such  crops  as  the  peach.  It  is  evident  that  everyone 
concerned  in  their  cultivation  should  inform  himself  fully 
relative  to  these  matters,  for  it  is  quite  likely  that  in  the 
absence  of  a  plentiful  supply  of  available  potash  the  results 
secured  from  the  orchard  will  be  unsatisfactory,  whereas 
an  intelligent  and  liberal  application  of  this  element  will 
overcome  any  deficiency  which  may  naturally  exist  and 
insure  profitable  returns  from  the  orchard  through  a  long 
period  of  years. 

Results  of  Fertilizer  Experiments  with  Peaches 

While  the  deductions  of  scientific  men  and  the  informa- 
tion gleaned  from  the  experiences  of  others  are  always  im- 
portant to  consider,  it  is  well  in  making  statements,  such 


FERTILIZING     PEACHES 

as  the  above,  to  be  in  position  to  substantiate  them  through 
the  actual  experience  of  the  man  who  has  been  growing 
peaches  and  has  demonstrated  to  his  own  satisfaction  that 
applications  of  commercial  plant  food  are  justified  by  the 
results  secured  in  the  way  of  increased  yield  and  improved 
quality  of  product.  To  this  end  certain  experiments  were 
undertaken  by  Mr.  C.  E.  Bassett,  of  Fennville,  Michigan, 
who  operates  a  sixty-acre  fruit  farm  of  which  thirty  acres 
are  devoted  to  peaches.  The  land  is  sandy  in  character  but 
of  a  type  excellently  adapted  for  the  cultivation  of  peaches 
and  other  fruits  provided  it  is  well  managed  and  properly 
fertilized. 

In  this  test  seven  plats  of  one-quarter  acre  each  were 
used  and  the  work  of  applying  the  fertilizers  and  harvest-- 
ing the  crop  was  carried  out  with  ^discrimination  and  care 
throughout  a  series  of  years.  The  season  of  1910,  by  no 
means  an  ideal  one,  was  characterized  by  an  early,  dry, 
warm  spring  which  eventually  proved,  however,  to  be  a  late 
spring  during  which  much  rain  fell  and  was  followed  by 
a  dry  and  backward  summer.  The  results  secured  during 
this  year  which  are  described  in  the  following  pages  may  be 
regarded  as  fairly  typical  of  what  can  be  expected  under 
similar  conditions  in  the  mid-western  peach  belt.  The  data 
relative  to  the  experiment  carried  'out  by  Mr.  Bassett  have 
been  summarized  very  carefully  in  the  accompanying  table : 


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-5 


FERTILIZING     PEACHES 

The  physical  examination  of  the  trees  under  test 
revealed  the  following  interesting  facts.  On  the  unfertilized 
plat  the  trees  seemed  to  break  down  much  more  easily  than 
on  the  fertilized  plats,  especially  on  those  plats  receiving  a 
complete  fertilizer  with  a  high  per  cent  of  potash.  This  is 
in  accordance  with  the  experience  of  other  growers  and  in 
line  with  the  suggestions  made  herein  relative  to  the  action 
of  potash  on  the  hardiness  and  strength  of  wood.  It  was 
especially  noticeable  that  the  foliage  on  plats  5  and  6  was 
much  better  than  on  the  plats  to  which  no  fertilizer  was 
applied.  The  year  1910  would  be  regarded  as  a  poor  year 
for  fruit,  yet  the  fruit  obtained  from  the  fertilized  plats 
was  in  much  better  condition  for  shipping  than  that  from 
the  other  plats.  The  fertilized  trees  were  in  much  better 
condition  to  enter  the  winter  and  the  fruit  was  also  much 
larger  on  all  these  plats  than  in  previous  years. 

In  this  experiment  the  fertilizer  was  applied  at  the 
rate  of  1,000  pounds  per  acre,  and  was  used  on  the  basis  of 
3  per  cent  of  nitrogen,  7  per  cent  of  available  phosphoric 
acid,  and  10  per  cent  of  potash.  The  materials  from  which 
it  was  prepared  were  dried  blood,  acid  phosphate,  and  sul- 
fate  of  potash.  On  plat  6  it  will  be  observed  that  lime  was 
applied.  The  lime  used  was  in  the  form  of  air  slacked  lime 
and  cost  approximately  $8.00  per  ton.  Each  plat  consisted 
of  two  rows  containing  fourteen  trees  each  or  twenty-eight 


FERTILIZING    PEACHES 

trees  in  all.  But  as  a  matter  of  fact,  the  plats  did  not  con- 
tain a  uniform  number  of  bearing  trees.  On  one  or  two 
plats  there  were  dead  trees ;  and  on  some  there  were  young 
trees  not  .in  bearing.  The  data  have  been  figured  out,  how- 
ever, on  the  basis  of  the  actual  number  of  trees  per  plat  in 
bearing,  so  that  the  results  from  the  different  plats  are 
perfectly  fair  and  comparable  with  each  other. 

It  will  be  observed  that  on  the  first  plat  no  fertilizer 
was  used ;  on  the  second  plat, — potash  and  phosphoric  acid ; 
on  the  third  plat, — potash  and  nitrogen;  on  the  fourth 
plat, — phosphoric  acid  and  nitrogen;  on  the  fifth  plat, — 
potash,  phosphoric  acid  and  nitrogen ;  on  the  sixth  plat, — 
potash,  phosphoric  acid,  nitrogen  and  lime;  and  on  the 
seventh  plat, — nothing.  The  fertilizer  was  applied  in  the 
following  amounts  per  acre:  Blood  240  pounds,  Acid 
Phosphate  500  pounds,  and  Sulfate  of  Potash  200  pounds. 
Lime  was  used  on  plat  6  at  the  rate  of  one  ton  per  acre. 
The  cost  of  the  heaviest  application,  exclusive  of  lime,  was 
$16.85.  Where  the  lime  was  applied  on  plat  6,  the  cost 
of  the  fertilizer  became  $24.85.  The  table  shows  the  yield 
per  plat  in  bushels,  the  number  of  trees  bearing,  the  yield 
per  tree  in  bushels,  the  yield  per  acre  with  108  bearing 
trees,  the  increase  over  the  unfertilized  plat  in  bushels,  the 
value  of  the  crop  at  $1.65*  per  bushel  for  the  peaches,  the 
value  of  the  crop  increase  over  no  fertilizer,  the  cost  of  the 

*  The  excellent  price  obtained  by  Mr.  Bassett  was  due  to  the  shortage  in  the 
Michigan  peach  crop  in  1910. 

Eighteen 


FERTILIZING    PEACHES 

fertilizer,  and  the  net  value  of  the  increase  over  the  cost  of 
the  fertilizer. 

To  discuss  the  table  in  detail  is  neither  wise  nor  desir- 
able, but  it  will  well  reward  careful  study  and  considera- 
tion on  the  part  of  all  interested  in  the  cultivation  of 
peaches,  and  in  fact,  a  study  of  these  figures  in  association 
with  a  scratch  pad  will  do  more  to  inform  the  grower  rela- 
tive to  the  various  fertilizer  formulas  in  increasing  the 
yield  and  the  profits  per  acre  from  a  peach  orchard  than 
anything  else. 

It  is  noteworthy  that  the  application  of  fertilizer,  re- 
gardless of  its  combination,  increased  the  yield  over  no 
fertilizer  in  every  instance.  The  most  noticeable  increase 
in  yield,  however,  was  secured  on  the  plats  to  which  a  com- 
plete fertilizer  and  a  complete  fertilizer  with  lime  were 
applied.  The  average  yield  per  tree  on  plat  5  was  4.83 
bushels;  on  plat  6,  4.14  bushels.  It  does  not  appear  from 
these  results  that  the  lime  was  beneficial  on  this  soil,  and 
as  it  cost  so  much  more  in  proportion  than  the  balance  of 
the  fertilizer,  it  naturally  reduced  the  profit  per  acre  quite 
markedly.  It  will  be  noted  that  where  a  complete  fertilizer 
was  used  on  plats  5  and  6  that  the  yield  per  acre  of  108 
trees  was  at  the  rate  of  521.64  bushels  and  447.12  bushels 
respectively.  This  represented  an  increase  of  189.54  bushels 
for  plat  5,  a  complete  fertilizer,  and  115.02  bushels  for 

Nineteen 


FERTILIZING    PEACHES 


Comparative  Yield  Per  Acre  of  Peaches  Receivine  Complete  Fertilizer  (10%  Potash) 
and  Unfertilized  Peaches 

plat  6,  a  complete  fertilizer  with  lime.  On  the  basis  of 
acre  production  the  value  of  the  crop  from  plat  5  at  $1.65 
per  bushel  would  be  $860.71,  and  from  plat  6,  $737.75. 
Contrast  this  with  the  average  value  of  the  no-fertilizer 
plats,  which  was  $547.97.  This  leaves  from  $200.00  to 
$300.00  profit  to  the  peach  grower  above  the  cost  of  com- 
mercial plant  food.  The  actual  net  return  shown  by  this 
experiment  over  no-fertilizer  plats  in  the  case  of  plat  5, 
which  received  potash,  phosphoric  acid,  and  nitrogen,  is 
$295.89 ;  in  the  case  of  plat  6  where  lime  was  used  in  addi- 
tion to  the  above  formula,  $164.93.  Surely  these  facts  are 
sufficiently  striking  to  convince  the  peach  grower  of  the 

Twenty 


FERTILIZING     PEACHES 


jyr 


Comparative  Yield  Per  Acre  of  Peaches  Receiving  an  Incomplete  Fertilizer 
(without  Potash)  and  Unfertilized  Peaches 

desirability  of  making  liberal  applications  of  a  well  bal- 
anced fertilizer  to  his  trees  on  all  soils  of  a  sandy  or  semi- 
sandy  character,  and  which  are  on  that  account  quite  likely 
to  be  deficient  in  a  quickly  available  supply  of  potash. 

Application  of  Fertilizers 

No  hard  and  fast  rules  can  be  given  as  to  the  exact 
amount  and  composition  of  fertilizers  to  apply  to  the  peach 
orchard,  as  that  will  depend  largely  upon  the  charac- 
ter of  the  soil,  climatic  conditions,  and  the  age,  size,  and 
fruit  yielding  capacity  of  the  trees.  For  these  reasons  it 
becomes  almost  necessary  for  the  orchardist  to  experiment 

Twenty-One 


Photograph  Shows  How  and  Where  to  Apply  Fertilizer  to  a  Peach  Tree 
Twenty-Two 


FERTILIZING     PEACHES 

for  himself  in  order  to  determine  the  plant  food  require- 
ments of  his  trees.  An  analysis  of  the  soil,  while  of  some 
value  as  an  index  to  the  total  plant  food  supply,  may  give 
the  orchardist  a  false  idea  of  the  richness  of  his  soil,  for 
it  must  be  remembered  that  the  plant  food  elements  may  be 
in  a  partly  or  wholly  insoluble  condition,  and,  therefore, 
unavailable  as  an  immediate  source  of  nourishment  to  the 
trees. 

Where  and  When  to  Apply  Fertilizers 

Every  fruit  grower  knows  that  the  roots  absorb  the 
plant  food  used  in  the  process  of  tree  growth ;  it,  therefore, 
follows  that  fertilizers  should  be  applied  in  the  vicinity  of 
the  roots,  as  indicated  in  the  accompanying  illustration. 
The  fertilizer  should  be  scattered  evenly  over  the  ground 
and  well  worked  into  the  soil  with  a  rake,  harrow,  or  other 
form  of  tooth  cultivator  that  will  mix  it  with  the  surface 
layer  of  soil  to  a  depth  of  at  least  three  or  four  inches. 

The  time  to  apply  fertilizers  to  deciduous  trees,  such  as 
the  peach,  is  before  they  commence  to  bloom.  Stable 
manure  and  all  slowly  available  sources  of  plant  food 
should  be  spaded  or  plowed  in  during  the  late  fall  or  early 
winter.  The  more  readily  soluble  fertilizers  should  be 
evenly  distributed  as  early  as  possible  in  the  spring.  Where 
the  soils  are  heavy,  fertilizers  should  be  applied  deeply,  but 

Twenty-Three 


FERTILIZING     PEACHES 

with  light  soils  surface  applications  may  be  made  as  the 
spring  rains  will  carry  the  nourishing  properties  down  to 
the  roots.  At  the  same  time,  however,  light  cultivation  is 
advantageous  just  after  distribution.  Nitrogenous  fertili- 
zer may  be  partially  or  wholly  dispensed  with  when  a  heavy 
leguminous  cover  crop  has  been  previously  turned  under. 
Where  the  young  orchard  is  planted  on  a  soil  of  sandy 
character,  a  fertilizer  mixture  similar  to  that  used  by  Mr. 
Bassett  should  give  profitable  returns. 

For  sandy  soils  containing  an  average  amount  of  humus, 
— in  which  component  Mr.  Bassett 's  soil  is  somewhat  lack- 
ing— the  following  recommendations  are  made : 

For  growing  trees:     Nitrogen  3  %. 

Potash  8  %. 

Phosphoric   Acid   8  %. 

The  following  materials  will  make  a  fertilizer  with  the 
above  analysis: 

500  Ibs.  Blood  12  %. 

1150  Ibs.  Acid  Phosphate  14  %  available. 

335  Ibs.  Sulfate  of  Potash  48  %. 

15  Ibs.  Filler.* 
2000  Ibs. 

For  bearing  trees:    Nitrogen  2  %. 

Phosphoric  Acid  7  %. 
Potash  10  %. 

*  The  filler  may  be  added  if  desired  but  is  unnecessary  as  the  mixture  contains 
the  equivalent  in  plant  food  of  1  ton  of  fertilizer. 

Twenty- Four 


FERTILIZING    PEACHES 

The  following  materials  will  make  a  fertilizer  with  the 
foregoing  analysis : 

335  Ibs.  Blood  12%. 

1000  Ibs.  Acid  Phosphate  14  %  available. 

•420  Ibs.  Sulphate  of  Potash  48  %. 
245  Ibs.  Filler.* 

2000  Ibs. 

Fertilizers  should,  of  course,  be  mixed  with  a  consider- 
able volume  of  soil  and  not  brought  directly  into  contact 
with  the  roots  of  the  young  tree.  From  2  to  3  pounds  of 
a  mixture  with  the  formula  mentioned  for  growing  trees 
may  be  used  with  advantage  when  applied  in  a  ring  around 
the  tree  at  a  distance  of  two  or  three  feet,  but  if  the  tree  is 
not  making  a  sufficiently  vigorous  growth  an  additional 
fertilizer  application  of  y2  pound  of  nitrate  of  soda  per 
tree,  to  stimulate  growth,  may  be  advantageously  applied. 
A  vigorous  growth  is  much  to  be  desired  the  first  two  years 
in  order  to  secure  the  foundation  for  a  crop  of  fruit  as  soon 
as  possible.  Experienced  peach  growers  know  that  bearing 
trees  can  be  supplied  with  too  much  nitrogen  for  best 
results,  but  this  should  not  lead  one  to  make  the  mistake  of 
not  supplying  a  sufficient  amount  of  this  element  to  young 
trees  during  the  first  two  years  after  setting.  If  the 
growth  is  rapid  during  the  second  summer  it  can  be  con- 
trolled and  trained  into  desirable  form  by  summer  pruning ; 
while  if  the  trees  make  a  slow  growth  it  will  be  necessary 


*The  filler  may  be  added  if  desired  but  is  unnecessary  as  the  mixture  contains 
the  equivalent  in  plant  food  of  1  ton  of  fertilizer. 

Twenty-  Five 


FERTILIZING     PEACHES 

to  wait  longer  for  the  first  good  crop.  The  dangerous  effect 
of  using  any  one  element  of  fertilizer  only  is  most  apparent 
in  the  excessive  use  of  nitrogen.  Phosphoric  acid  and  pot- 
ash are  more  readily  retained  in  the  soil  and  a  reasonable 
excess  of  either  or  both  of  these  elements  will  do  no  harm. 
It  will  merely  tend  to  correct  any  ill  effects  of  too  much 
nitrogen. 

As  the  trees  grow  older  and  larger  and  come  into  bear- 
ing, fertilizers  should  be  increased  in  amount,  say  8,  10, 
and  12  pounds  per  tree,  to  be  put  on  in  a  circle  of  5  to  10 
feet  in  diameter  around  the  tree. 

The  attention  of  the  reader  is  respectfully  directed  to 
the  illustrations  showing  the  comparative  yields  of  plats 
1,  4,  and  5,  and  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  he  will  examine  them 
carefully  and  be  convinced  of  the  great  benefits  following 
the  application  of  a  well  balanced  complete  fertilizer  to  a 
peach  orchard  which  had  been  considered  fairly  productive 
until  these  tests  were  made  The  facts  set  forth  show  the 
essential  relations  of  potash  fertilization  to  the  securing  of 
largely  increased  yields  of  peaches.  The  wise  grower  who 
cultivates  this  crop  will  give  these  results  the  serious 
consideration  which  their  importance  merits.  Experience 
and  the  observation  of  practical  tests  will  demonstrate  to 
every  grower  the  importance  of  fertilizing  peaches  for 
profit. 

Tw«nty-Slx 


FEETILIZING    PEACHES 


A  5  year  old  Elberta  peach  orchard,   near  Williamson,   N.   Y.,  badly  neglected 

until   1911  when  owner    applied  per  tree  15   Ibs.  fertilizer  containing 

2$  Nitrogen,  8?u  Phosphoric  Acid  and  10%  Potash.     Photograph 

taken   after    1912    crop    was    removed. 


A  peach  orchard  at  Hilton,   N.  Y.  4  years  old,  variety  Smock.    Fertilized  with 
500  Ibs.  per  acre  of  a  mixture  containing  8$  Phosphoric  Acid  and  10%  Potash 

(Photographs  by  Courtesy  of  E.  L.  Markell,  Ithaca,  N.  Y.) 

Twenty-Seven 


FERTILIZING    PEACHES 

Summary 

Peach  growers  may  expect  the  following  results  from 
the  judicious  application  of  a  well  balanced  fertilizer  to  the 
peach  orchard : 

(1)  A  marked  increase  in  the  yield  of  fruit. 

(2)  Larger  fruit  of  a  better  quality. 

(3)  Improved  shipping  quality  of  product. 

(4)  Increased  vigor  and  healthiness  of  trees. 

(5)  Early  maturity  of  young  trees  which  enables  them 
to  come  into  bearing  at  an  earlier  age  than  other- 
wise. 

(6)  Prolonged  bearing  life  beyond  the  average  of  un- 
fertilized trees. 

(7)  Early  maturity  of  wood  which  enables  the  trees  to 
endure  winter  exposure  to  better  advantage. 

(8)  Strengthened  wood  fiber,   thereby  lessening  the 
tendency  of  the  trees  to  break  under  a  heavy  strain 
of  fruit  yield. 

(9)  Increased  growth  of  vegetation  where  cover  crops 
are  grown. 

(10)  Fertility  of  soil  maintained. 

Twenty- Eight 


FERTILIZING    PEACHES 


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Twenty-Nine 


Approximate  Amounts  of  Plant-Food  Constituents 
Used  in  One  Crop. 

(VANSLYKE) 


Kind  of  Crop 

Yield  Per 
Acre 

Trees  Per 
Acre 

Nitrogen 

Phosphoric 
Acid(P205) 

Potash 
(K20) 

Apples 
Fruit  .    . 
Leaves 

300  bu. 
1000  Ibs 

30 
qn 

Lbs. 
6.0 

10  ft 

Lbs. 
3.0 

1C 

Lbs. 
15.0 

3r 

New  Wood  
Total  .  .  . 

100  Ibs. 

30 

0.5 
16~5 

0.2 

4  7 

.0 

0.3 

18^8 

Peaches 
Fruit  

400  bu. 

100 

22.2 

11.0 

45.5 

Leaves  .... 

5300  Ibs. 

100 

47.7 

8.0 

42  0 

New  Wood.  .  .  . 
Total  .  .  . 

1500  Ibs. 

100 

8.6 
78T5 

2.0 

2Tb 

2.5 
90.0 

Pears 
Fruit  

300  bu. 

100 

7.5 

3.0 

15.0 

Leaves  

2400  Ibs. 

100 

16.8 

2.9 

9.6 

New  Wood  .  . 
Total  . 

600  Ibs. 

100 

1.8 

2eTi 

0.6 
"6^5 

1.5 
2<U 

Plums 
Fruit  
Leaves  .... 

200  bu. 
2000  Ibs. 

120 
120 

15.3 
15.2 

5.5 
3.5 

21.3 
16.0 

New  Wood  .  . 
Total  

700  Ibs. 

120 

3.5 
340 

1.5 
105 

2.0 
39^3 

Quinces 
Fruit  .   . 

200  bu 

160 

12.0 

5.5 

25.0 

Leaves  ...    . 

1500  Ibs 

160 

13.5 

2.7 

6.4 

New  Wood  
Total  

400  Ibs. 

160 

2.0 
27J5 

0.8 

1u) 

1.6 
33^0 

Cherries 

8000  Ibs 

120 

16.0 

4.0 

20.0 

Blackberries  .  . 
Red  Raspber's 
Blackberries  ,  . 
Strawberries  .  . 
Currants  .  . 
Gooseberries  .  . 
Grapes 

4000  qts. 
4000     " 
3000     " 
5000     " 
3200     " 
3200     " 
6000  Ibs. 

11.0 

10.5 
10.0 
7.5 
12.0 
6.5 
9.0 

3.0 
4.5 
4.0 
3.0 
5.0 
3.0 
6.0 

12.0 
12.0 
13.0 
12.5 
12.0 
12.0 
18.0 

Thirty 


FERTILIZING    P. 


USUAL  DISTANCES  FOR  PLANTING  FRUIT 
TREES  AND  VINES. 

(  In  planting  trees  the  greater  distance  should  be  given 
on  the  richer  soils.  ) 

Apples    ..........................  20  to  30  feet  each  way. 

Pears   (Standard)    ................  20"  25"       "       " 

Pears    (Dwarf)    ..................  12  "  15  " 

Quinces    .........................  15  "       "       " 

Peaches    .........................  18  "  24  "       "       " 

Plums    ...........................  15  "20  "       "       " 

Cherries  .........................  15  "  20  "       "       " 

Figs    ............................  12"  15  "       M       " 

Japan  Persimmons  ................  15  "  20  " 

Mulberries  .......................  20  "  25  "       M       " 

Oranges  (Sweet)  ..................  20"  25  "       "       " 

Oranges  (Japanese)  ...............  12  "  15  "       "       " 

Blackberries   ............  .  ...........  ...........  6  by  4 

Raspberries  ....................................  6  "  3 

Currants  .............................  ...........  5  "   3 

Gooseberries  ....................................  5  "   3 

Strawberries  (Hills)    .....................  36  x  18  inches 

Strawberries  (Matted  rows)  ...............  48  x  12      " 

Grapes  .............................  8  x  8  to  10  x  12  feet 

Thirty-One 


ING    PEACHES 


Interested  peach  growers  who  desire  information  about 
other  crops  may  obtain  a  copy  of  the  following  agricultural 
books  free  of  charge  : 

Potash  in  Agriculture. 

Principles  of  Profitable  Farming. 
Farmers'  Guide. 
Truck  Farming. 
Plant  Food. 

Farmers'  Note  Book. 

Experiments  with  Fertilizers. 
Tropical  Planting. 
Potash  Industry. 
Cotton  Culture. 

Sugar  Cane  Culture. 
Sugar  Beet  Culture. 
Fertilizing  Sugar  Cane. 
Tobacco  Culture. 
Fertilizing  Tobacco. 

Value  of  Swamp  Lands. 
Strawberry  Culture. 
Why  the  Fish  Failed. 
Orange  Culture. 
Fall  Fertilizers. 
Potash  Pays. 

State  which  one  of  the  above-mentioned  publications 
you  desire,  and  it  will  be  mailed  to  you  free  of  charge. 

ADDRESS 

GERMAN  KALI  WORKS,  Inc. 

1901  McCormick  Bldg.,  CHICAGO 

42  Broadway,  NEW  YORK  Empire  Bldg.,  ATLANTA 

260  Hansford  Block,  25  California  St.,  SAN  FRANCISCO,  CAL. 

Whitney  Bank  Bldg.,  NEW  ORLEANS 

Thirty-Two 


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UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 


